£600k Newborough walkway collapses in storm

Platform on Anglesey beach brought down during high winds and tidal surge

A new viewing platform at Newborough Beach was badly damaged during a tidal surge and high winds on Friday. Photo - Owen Griffiths.

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

Part of a £600,000 project to boost visitor numbers at a tourist hotspot is among the casualties of a devastating storm surge that struck the island over the weekend.

The wooden viewing platform at Newborough beach, which only opened last Easter, collapsed as tonnes of sand were washed away with the strong tides, making the supporting pillars unstable.

Contractors will now carry out an investigation to see if the structure can be saved.

Other communities along the coast suffered flooding with parts of the sea wall in Trearddur Bay also damaged.

Homes in Red Wharf Bay suffered flooding while eyewitnesses in Malltraeth said that water levels at the all-important cob were at their highest in recent memory.

An eyewitness to the incident in Newborough said that the dunes had also suffered, causing dozens of trees to be uprooted.

A spokesman on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, who installed the viewing platform less than a year ago, said that a structural review is set to take place but they hope it can be salvaged.

He added: "We are aware of the damage to the boardwalk and viewing platform. They were designed to be adaptable and movable to go forwards and backwards with the dunes and to allow less abled people to have a view of the sea and Ynys Llanddwyn.

"In the light of recent developments and the significant loss of dunes over the last month, we will be working with our contractors to relocate and modify the structure in an area which will continue to allow access."